Kayak River Fishing?

[Koz]

How much am I going to love it or hate it? Any tips?

 

Next weekend I have a choice of fishing a Bass Nation kayak tournament on one of three rivers here in GA or a making the drive to fish a tournament on Keowee in SC.

 

I drove to a local river ramp today and saw a decent amount of current and rocks. I'm worried about doing damage to my Autopilot 120, both the hull and the motor. And even with a 100Ah battery, I bet I'll end up using a lot of that trying to navigate and spot lock.

 

I have a pedal kayak as well, and I could launch at a north ramp and then have my son pick me up at a ramp further south. But I don't have an anchor system and I think I'd get frustrated out there without one - if it would even hold. Still, fishing local saves me travel and hotel money.

 

So, what are the ins and outs of river kayak fishing? I'm looking at fishing the Oconee river below the Sinclair dam.

[TnRiver46]

River kayak fishing is the greatest but I wouldn’t dare take a motor or pedal drive where I go.  Granted that’s probably specific to each river 

[Susky River Rat]

A bunch of kayaks were torn up this weekend on the susky at the bass master event. River fishing can be the greatest or worst thing you ever do. I have never river fished in a kayak but, here are some general river fishing guidelines. 
 

i would take the motor but, you need to make sure it can be easily retracted. You will hit bump and rub things. 
 

The biggest thing wether in a kayak or boat you need to learn to read the water in a river. Not only to find fish. This will keep you safe. It will be the different of you damaging your yak or possible capsize. Always have an escape plan.  Also on the safety note. Look for any dams broken dams talk to people who fished it. Lowhead dams are like trains. They don’t move but, if you risk it they will win. 

Disclaimer: right or wrong if a jet boat blows your doors off it’s usually for one or two reasons. Reason one. He didn’t see you. Reason two that is where they need to be to operate the boat and/or cannot come off plane for risk of hitting.

 

[padon]

1 hour ago, Susky River Rat said:

A bunch of kayaks were torn up this weekend on the susky at the bass master event. River fishing can be the greatest or worst thing you ever do. I have never river fished in a kayak but, here are some general river fishing guidelines. 
 

i would take the motor but, you need to make sure it can be easily retracted. You will hit bump and rub things. 
 

The biggest thing wether in a kayak or boat you need to learn to read the water in a river. Not only to find fish. This will keep you safe. It will be the different of you damaging your yak or possible capsize. Always have an escape plan.  Also on the safety note. Look for any dams broken dams talk to people who fished it. Lowhead dams are like trains. They don’t move but, if you risk it they will win. 

Disclaimer: right or wrong if a jet boat blows your doors off it’s usually for one or two reasons. Reason one. He didn’t see you. Reason two that is where they need to be to operate the boat and/or cannot come off plane for risk of hitting.

 

He and i fish the same river him from a jet boat me from a kayak. to me the auto pilot will struggle. now you could take it out which may help.i use a paddle kayak with a torquedo motor. the facy that the motor can be lifted is key.i will get in shallow riffles that need to be paddled through every time no doubt.also the lithium battery is very light which keeps the kayak from drafting too much . as far as the jet boats they have to stay on plane in that shallow water.keep an eye out for them and try to give them room.

[Koz]

I’m going to sit this one out. If I do a tournament this weekend I’ll make the drive to Keowee. It looks like their tourism has slowed down because I see brand name hotels offering rates of only $60 - $80.

 

Or maybe I’ll just stay home.

[gim]

I don't own a kayak but to me a smaller shallow river is where a yak would be ideal.  You can't get a large watercraft in there so its limited to smaller crafts or wading.

[FryDog62]

3 hours ago, gimruis said:

I don't own a kayak but to me a smaller shallow river is where a yak would be ideal.  You can't get a large watercraft in there so its limited to smaller crafts or wading.

True, but the motorized kayaks have their limitations too, they draft less than a traditional bass boat, but more than a jet boat. If you hit a rock or bottom in an Autopilot, that kill switch and prop will pop up in an instant. They can take a beating, but not repeatedly...

 

Koz, if your rivers are shallow or if there are drought conditions, Keowee might be your best bet. Average fishing there, but beautiful body of water (and plenty deep)! 

[Bankc]

I'd sit the river tournament out unless you get a chance to test out the river beforehand.  Rivers can vary wildly.  Not just from river to river, but in the same river from day to day.  And if you don't have at least a little bit of an idea of what you're getting into ahead of time, you can really ruin your day. 

 

We don't have much in the way of rivers here in Oklahoma.  They tend to run dry fairly often, so they're often not navigable.  And when they are up, they're mostly just mud and sand.  So I don't mind taking my kayak out on them, as they're not particularly dangerous.  But they're usually not good for fishing, so I rarely do it.  I mainly just fish them when the winds have been high for weeks at a time, as the rivers are usually a lot better protected from the winds than the lakes, provided the winds are blowing perpendicular to the river. 

[Choporoz]

Impossible to give much general advice about kayak fishing rivers. @Bankcand @TnRiver46are right. Very much depends on specifics...what river, what levels, tidal, above fall line, rapids and/or riffles; can you do a float, or do you need to launch and return to same ramp.... on and on.  Unless it is a relatively slow and deep, I almost have to go with someone with experience there, or at very least go with someone and do a float together.  Use Google Earth and Google Maps; gauge sites like NOAA, USGS, Army Corps of Engineers, etc.  Tidal rivers below the fall line are a completely different animal.... not necessarily easier,  but just different. 

[MediumMouthBass]

Kayak river fishing is probably the best thing to ever do in fishing, in my area the guys at the lakes for hours and hours are catching maybe 4-10 bass, mostly 2lbs.

The guys on the river are either coming back with nothing, or bragging about doing 30-75.

 

But thats when fishing for smallmouth, largemouth in a river system is much different, not sure if its better or worse, only have smallies in rivers near me.

 

So i cant help there, buts here some advice i have. Dont take any kayak on a river that you arent able to replace. River kayaks are specifically made to handle not getting destroyed by rocks, my Shoalie for instance is made for this (and the bottom still looks like a cheese grater went over it). A regular kayak would work but you risk damage to the bottom very easily from how curved and rounded they are, unlike the flatter bottoms meant to cruise over shallow rocks.

Depending on the river you are fishing, you will either be able to turn without issue or keep crashing into rocks from turning to slow. River kayaks are meant for fast turns to dodge rocks or boulders if the need arises. If theres no rocky spots in the middle, or bad current any kayak will do fine.

 

Also dont take any pedal or motorized kayak in the river unless you know the river.

This is the main reason people keep ruining their kayaks, the river i fish goes from 10' deep to 1' in the middle within just a few feet. And if it werent for me wadding in that spot years ago i wouldnt know. And there goes your pedal system.

And also in my river a spot will be clean and clear, no snags, no rocks, and after 1 rain in new york has our waters flooded and filled with trees. After a week that clear spot is full of things that will get line broken off, and if you run a kayak dragging something along with it (like pedals) it will take it with it to the bottom.

 

As for the anchors, DONT!!!!      These will be extremely dangerous on unfamiliar river systems, even familiar rivers can be dangerous to have one. One jet boat or a change of current could land you upside down rather quickly. And not sure how that river is, but the Susquehanna near me has caused way to many drownings, very dangerous river to be in. But if you have to use an anchor use a trolley system with a quick release.

 

Your best bet would be to try to find a kayak shop or a rental guide place and ask them to give you a quick breakdown of that local stretch of the river, and then decide if the pros are worth the cons.

 

But even after all the above, theres no place id rather fish than a river, and nothing id rather be fishing it on than a kayak.

[Susky River Rat]

@Choporoz makes a great point. I live and die by the river gauges. it takes a lot of time on the water learning how they affect the river and where the fish are. A .2 change on that gauge is the different between me hitting or clean sailing once it gets to a certain level. 

[Koz]

45 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Kayak river fishing is probably the best thing to ever do in fishing, in my area the guys at the lakes for hours and hours are catching maybe 4-10 bass, mostly 2lbs.

The guys on the river are either coming back with nothing, or bragging about doing 30-75.

 

But thats when fishing for smallmouth, largemouth in a river system is much different, not sure if its better or worse, only have smallies in rivers near me.

 

So i cant help there, buts here some advice i have. Dont take any kayak on a river that you arent able to replace. River kayaks are specifically made to handle not getting destroyed by rocks, my Shoalie for instance is made for this (and the bottom still looks like a cheese grater went over it). A regular kayak would work but you risk damage to the bottom very easily from how curved and rounded they are, unlike the flatter bottoms meant to cruise over shallow rocks.

Depending on the river you are fishing, you will either be able to turn without issue or keep crashing into rocks from turning to slow. River kayaks are meant for fast turns to dodge rocks or boulders if the need arises. If theres no rocky spots in the middle, or bad current any kayak will do fine.

 

Also dont take any pedal or motorized kayak in the river unless you know the river.

This is the main reason people keep ruining their kayaks, the river i fish goes from 10' deep to 1' in the middle within just a few feet. And if it werent for me wadding in that spot years ago i wouldnt know. And there goes your pedal system.

And also in my river a spot will be clean and clear, no snags, no rocks, and after 1 rain in new york has our waters flooded and filled with trees. After a week that clear spot is full of things that will get line broken off, and if you run a kayak dragging something along with it (like pedals) it will take it with it to the bottom.

 

As for the anchors, DONT!!!!      These will be extremely dangerous on unfamiliar river systems, even familiar rivers can be dangerous to have one. One jet boat or a change of current could land you upside down rather quickly. And not sure how that river is, but the Susquehanna near me has caused way to many drownings, very dangerous river to be in. But if you have to use an anchor use a trolley system with a quick release.

 

Your best bet would be to try to find a kayak shop or a rental guide place and ask them to give you a quick breakdown of that local stretch of the river, and then decide if the pros are worth the cons.

 

But even after all the above, theres no place id rather fish than a river, and nothing id rather be fishing it on than a kayak.

Despite it being a lumbering beast, my AP120 turns on a dime using a combination of the motor and the rudder.

 

I fish out at Ocmulgee which has standing Cypress and tons of flooded timber, trees, and laydowns.

 

I have no worries navigating in the thick stuff including pivoting and reversing. But I can see most of the obstacles, including the submerged ones.

 

But in the end, with the equipment I have I don’t think that I would have any fun river fishing and I don’t want to risk damage to my kayak.

 

Rain and thunderstorms are in the forecast for both here and Keowee, so I think I’ll just stay home.

 

The bad news is that I won’t get to test out my new Ketch keeper, tether, and ID setup. I also added a new GoPro and some camera mounts that I have yet to try out.

[CountryboyinDC]

I almost exclusively fish rivers.  I've actually considered getting rid of the pedal drive kayak.  At times when the river levels get low, some of the small reservoirs are at least passable, and the pedal drive is better at that time or I can go wash line on the tidal Potomac.  

 

The safety and tearing up kayaks aspects should be concerns you consider, but they certainly don't dissuade me (my other hobby is whitewater canoeing and kayaking).  My Jackson Coosa HD is the kayak I take most often, but I can put the plug console in the Old Town Predator PDL and use that if I'm taking a friend.  I don't usually fish non-tidal rivers where a pedal drive (or trolling motor) would be viable.  I don't know if Old Town offers a plug console for the Autopilots (I haven't looked those over closely), but I wouldn't want to risk damaging the motor on it if not. 

 

I also use an anchor, which for me a is a 3lb dumbbell strung up by a small Anchor Wizard through the bow grab handle.  I also use a drag chain rigged similarly at the stern.  With these, I can control my descent speed in the riffles, or anchor up and fish a prime spot thoroughly.  Without them, I was relying on my being able to use river features like convenient rocks and eddies to hold my position, which often was less-than-ideal.  I believe in having a rescue knife rigged in an accessible place if you're going to be around cord or ropes while on the water.  

 

I don't usually think of rivers at this time of year to the place for giants, but obviously the tournament on the Susquehanna this past weekend says otherwise.  I personally prefer the rivers because boats can't get on them, even jet boats for the most part.  If there's a stretch of river I believe will be particularly productive, I can get out and wade (I know laws are different in different places on getting out of the boat on rivers flowing through private land).  Having the water to myself is what provides the enjoyment beyond what catching smallmouth or shoallies can.  I highly recommend it, and it's a relatively low cost/effort for entry.  Always room for one more kayak.

[gim]

4 minutes ago, CountryboyinDC said:

I personally prefer the rivers because boats can't get on them, even jet boats for the most part.  If there's a stretch of river I believe will be particularly productive, I can get out and wade (I know laws are different in different places on getting out of the boat on rivers flowing through private land).  Having the water to myself is what provides the enjoyment beyond what catching smallmouth or shoallies can.

 

That was my point with my earlier post on yaks getting into skinny river water during summer.  You aint launching a 20 foot fiberglass bass boat with a 250 on it in a shallow rocky river.  Access is greatly limited to waders, smaller crafts, and jet boats in some areas.

[CountryboyinDC]

@gimruis, exactly.  Rocks, the great democratizer amongst vessels of varying costs.

[Susky River Rat]

43 minutes ago, CountryboyinDC said:

I personally prefer the rivers because boats can't get on them, even jet boats for the most part

There are always boats on the susky unless it’s to high. 

[Scott804]

A lot of the tournament kayak guys I know, including me, have a second kayak just for running rivers. Either to float with or one with a bow mounted trolling motor like a newport or a torqueedo to launch and go upstream with. I run a jackson coosa I got for cheap and it is a dream on the smallmouth rivers near me. 

[CountryboyinDC]

The Susquehanna is the jet boat capital of the world, as far as I know, and we have the main stem of the Shenandoah and Potomac close by.  I suspect that there's no shortage of good places you can get to in a boat.

 

But I can take a kayak on parts of the Susquehanna that no jet boat can go, and I'm not just speaking of the whitewater stretches like Holtwood.  Not saying they're better fishing, but if I want to get out and be away from motor boats, you won't be able to follow me.

[Alex from GA]

• I only fish rivers/creeks in my kayak and usually with a partner.  Launch @ one bridge and float down to the next.  My anchor is an 18" piece of 3/8" chain.  If I need more I'll add another chain.  Usually wading is the most productive way to fish using the kayak for transportation.

[FryDog62]

On 7/28/2024 at 10:21 PM, Koz said:

...drove to a local river ramp today and saw a decent amount of current and rocks. I'm worried about doing damage to my Autopilot 120, both the hull and the motor.

Koz, Interesting side note - I heard a podcast re-cap of the B.A.S.S. kayak tournament on the Susky river... they said the guys in the Autopilots were relegated to the deep pool by the dam and referred to it as the "handicap parking zone" for kayakers.  The others with fast stern motors and pedal drives were up in the tributaries catching fish and winning the tournament..  

[Choporoz]

 Drew Gregory (24 Kayak Classic winner) in interviews over the last few years talks a lot about getting up skinny rivers often with a motor.  These guys at the top of the game push the limits with motors, going places I'd never try even with pedals or paddle.  (Of course the top pros might grind a prop and would have Newport or Toqueedo waiting at the ramp when they come in.)

[Susky River Rat]

@FryDog62 what podcast was this? I would like to listen. I find it interesting they had to stay at one area. At the level it was at for the tournament a jet boat can get pretty much anywhere.  

[gim]

2 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

they said the guys in the Autopilots were relegated to the deep pool by the dam and referred to it as the "handicap parking zone" for kayakers.  The others with fast stern motors and pedal drives were up in the tributaries catching fish and winning the tournament.

 

So bascially people with a "boat" couldn't get into skinny water and compete.

 

This only solidifies my earlier post.

[Susky River Rat]

@gimruis but people with a real boat can. Ain’t that a kick in the head. 

[FryDog62]

1 hour ago, Susky River Rat said:

@FryDog62 what podcast was this? I would like to listen. I find it interesting they had to stay at one area. At the level it was at for the tournament a jet boat can get pretty much anywhere.  

I think it was mostly a smart-aleck comment, but Autopilots tend to be the butt of jokes from other anglers that drive other faster brands… comes with the territory.. lol.

 

I couldn’t get the link (I’m traveling), but here’s a pic of the podcast you can google. The treacherous nature of the river and motor hazards are between the 42-45 minute mark I believe.